Solo Sonatas for Transverse Flute:
Flute Sonata in E minor HWV 359 b
Flute Sonata in G major HWV 363 b
Flute Sonata in B minor HWV 367 b
Flute Sonata in D major HWV 378
Flute Sonata in A minor HWV 374
Flute Sonata in E minor HWV 375
Flute Sonata in B minor HWV 376
Flute Sonata in E minor HWV 379

Solo Sonatas for Recorder and for Oboe:
Recorder Sonata in G minor HWV 360
Recorder Sonata in F major HWV 369
Recorder Sonata in D minor HWV 367 a
Recorder Sonata in B flat major HWV 377
Recorder Sonata in C major HWV 365
Recorder Sonata in A minor HWV 362
Oboe Sonata in C minor HWV 366
Oboe Sonata in B flat major HWV 357
Oboe Sonata in F major HWV 363 a

In the year 1712 Handel permanently settled in England, where he was able to concentrate on his chief passion - opera. His obligation to his patrons, connected with the fact that operas could not be performed the whole year round, ensured that Handel also composed a not inconsiderable number of instrumental works, including solo sonatas for transverse flute, recorder and oboe with basso continuo accompaniment.

It is clear from the autograph manuscripts and early printed editions of these solo sonatas that, in this case as well, Handel made plentiful use of the recycling procedure so typical of him. Many sonatas exist in versions for various wind instruments as well as for violin, which in some cases differ in their respective keys and number of movements. It is also striking that many sonatas were reworked in later printed editions so that they would be playable on the transverse flute, an instrument that was becoming ever more popular in England at that time.

The Accent label has now compiled all the solo sonatas for woodwinds on a double CD that also takes the different versions of the pieces into account. The soloists are proven experts in their field: Barthold Kuijken (transverse flute), Peter Van Heyghen (recorder) and Marcel Ponseele (oboe).

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Recorded in September 1991 [CD 1] at Église St. Apollinaire, Bolland (Belgium), ZankUkośnika and in December 1998 [CD 2, 1-27] and February 1999 [CD 2, 28-39] ZankUkośnika at the church of Sint Thomas Van Kantelberg, Male (Belgium)